Living with PTSD can be completely overwhelming. Coping with your symptoms to live a fulfilling and joy-filled life can feel like a job in and of itself. If you grapple with PTSD and feel like you have exhausted every possible treatment path, consider trying emotional freeing technique (EFT) therapy. This is a lesser-known technique used to manage symptoms of PTSD. To learn more about whether EFT is the right choice for you, keep reading.
Recognizing the Signs of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the psychological aftermath of experiencing a traumatizing event. It is natural for the body to experience a degree of trauma after living through such an event, but PTSD is a condition that goes beyond the natural order of things.
Although PTSD can look different in almost every individual’s case, some of the most recognizable traits include:
Being easily startled or frightened
Having recurring and involuntary flashbacks to the event
Feeling detached from the world
Engaging in harmful behavior, such as excessive drinking
Frequent and recurring nightmares
What is EFT Therapy?
Emotional freedom technique therapy, otherwise known simply as EFT or “tapping,” is the utilization of acupressure points while utilizing techniques learned in traditional talk therapy. In Chinese medicine practices, acupressure points are specific points that lie along the main channels or meridians of your body. This is where most energy flows through your body and where, according to Chinese medicine, you are able to most easily activate this healing energy.
In an EFT session, your therapist will guide you to tap along these acupressure points while using a trigger phrase. These certain phrases can be truly customized to best suit your needs. Continue on to learn three specific ways EFT can help with your PTSD.
One: Practicing tapping reduces stress
The immediate benefit to tapping is the stress-reducing qualities EFT has to offer. Not only does activating acupressure points help in releasing a good flow of energy, but practicing your affirming trigger phrase is a great form of meditation. It will almost instantly help to calm you down which contributes to lower overall stress.
Two: It allows you to process your trauma differently
Have you ever suggested taking a walk to distract yourself from a difficult conversation you planned on having with a loved one? This is because focusing on physical stimuli helps to distract from your thoughts and emotions.
Practicing tapping utilizes the same principles. The external stimuli of tapping help to distract from your trauma, which allows your brain to reprocess the traumatic memories and store them in a proper spot.
Three: EFT lessens overall emotional intensity
With time, EFT will help to put you back in control of your emotions and not live the other way around. Since the brain will reprocess the trauma, your memories will hold less of a painful hold on you. Your emotions will gradually become less intense and hopefully, will fade with time.
Deciding if It is Right For You
Although EFT therapy is not necessarily a traditional pathway, many people can benefit from practicing it. If you want to explore a more holistic method or something you can practice on your own, then EFT might be an option worth exploring.
Regardless of whether or not EFT therapy is a path you choose to go down, I assure you there is a course of treatment for you out there. Do not give up hope. Please reach out for a free 20 minute consultation to learn more about EFT and PTSD treatment.
Learn more about trauma therapy in Boulder, Longmont and Denver.
